Gold mine wage offer reviewed

Image courtesy AFP

The Chamber of Mines has tabled a revised wage offer to the National Union of Mineworkers, the NUM said on Thursday.

“The chamber presented us with a revised offer [on Wednesday] which will be the subject of discussion at today’s [Thursday] strike committee meeting that is currently sitting,” NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said.

Gold producers’ spokeswoman Charmane Russell confirmed that such an offer was presented to the union but remained tight-lipped on what changes were made.

“At this stage I cannot say which aspects of the offer were revised… but discussions are at a delicate stage,” Russell said.

Seshoka was also mum on details of the latest offer. He could not say if the figures were close to the unions’ demands.

“I’m unable to say if it is close or far to what we demanded. The strike committee meeting is underway to evaluate it and decide if we take it to the members or reject it outright.”

Seshoka said, however, the revision was indicative that talks between the union and employers were taking place in good faith.

On Wednesday, gold producers Evander Gold and Village Main Reef reached agreement with the NUM and the United Association of SA.

“The settlements reached by these companies are [an] eight percent increase in basic wages for category four and five employees, including rock drill operators.

Seshoka said the settlements were mine-specific and did not change the dynamics of the strike in other mines. He said union members at those mines agreed to the terms and understood what it meant for them.

Seshoka had vehemently denied reports that the union was ready to settle on a 10 percent increase on wages, saying their demands still called for a wage increase of R2300 for surface workers, and R3000 for underground workers.